FRIDAY MARCH 24, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS CayDance 2017 International performers join local dancers for annual festival B3 Power of the Purse inspirational luncheon Bestselling author Jeannette Walls to speak at fundraising event B5 Events Events Events ■ EVENTS Miss Cayman Islands Barefoot Beach Gala Drink in hand, toes in the sand for bash at Royal Palms B4 Turn the lights down low The Marriott joins in global recognition of Earth Hour B6 www.babichwines .co.nz Excellence Through Experience www.babichwines .co.nz Excellence Through Experience www.babichwines .co.nz Excellence Through Experience www.babichwines .co.nz Excellence Through Experience STOLI FLAVOURS 2 for $ 56 Until 31 July Registered Merchant of CaymanGiftCertifica tes.com SAVE ALMOST $5. Regular $13.99 each. Fine Wine and Spirits TORTUGA 15 stores island-wide and Mary Lou’s in Cayman Brac. For more information, please call 949-7701. 2for$28 Month of March only Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2014 Five ladies vie for the coveted title this Saturday. B7 PHOTO: LUIS VALLECILLO CAYMAN WEEKENDER Miss Cayman Islands EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 DAVID MARSHALL: ICCI’S CHAMPION EXITS THE ARENA High of 83 Low of 73 Seas: Rough with wave heights of 4 to 6 feet. Small craft should exercise caution over open water. ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 75 CENTS – FRIDAY MARCH 24, 2017 Also Available RED BAY SEVEN MILE BEACH WATERFRONT WALKERS ROAD TOWN CENTRE PLAZA Conservation Council approves EIAs Road proposed through mangroves JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A new road that would cut through the Central Man- grove Wetlands to link Bodden Town to Rum Point is under consideration. North Side MLA Ezzard Miller proposed the arterial road, which spans nearly five miles, along with two other farm roads. The proposal was referred to the National Con- servation Council for consulta- tion before being gazetted. The National Roads Au- thority does not appear to have had any input in the proposal at this point, and the conservation council ruled on Wednesday that an environmental impact assessment would be required before the route of the road could be gazetted. The council heard that there had been no traffic studies to justify the need for the roads, and development potential would be limited because the land bordering the proposed route is zoned as agricultural. Beach rock study for Dart project JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The National Conservation Council voted Wednesday to require an environ- mental impact assessment before devel- oper Dart Real Estate is permitted to re- move beach rock from the waters off Seven Mile Beach. The council unanimously approved a recommendation from the Department of Environment that the project undergo an independent assessment. The DoE had highlighted concerns that removing the rock would be an irreversible action that could cause erosion along the beach. Dart says the excavation of the rocks is necessary to create a sandy beach entry for guests of a planned five-star resort on the site, north of the Kimpton resort. Representatives for the developer GOVERNOR’S CONTRACT EXTENDED TO MARCH 2018 BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman Islands Governor Helen Kilpat- rick’s contract in Cayman has been extended for a further six months. Ms. Kilpatrick, whose four-year term was due to end in September, will now be staying on until March 2018. She earlier received a one-year extension to her initial three- year contract. “The extension was made at the request of the [U.K.] Foreign and Commonwealth Office for operational reasons,” according to a state- ment released Thursday. It is understood that the extension is to allow the next Cayman Islands governor time to settle affairs before coming to the islands. The governor’s office and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have not announced the new appointee’s name. If Ms. Kilpatrick serves until the end of her term, the six-month extension will make her Cayman’s longest-serving governor since Alan J. Scott, who served for five years between 1987 and 1992. The governor suffered a serious injury, in- cluding a punctured lung and fractured ribs during a fall at her home on Feb. 11. However, her office confirms she has recovered, and re- turned to work full-time earlier this month. Ms. Kilpatrick officially began her tour as Cayman’s governor on Sept. 6, 2013. She is the Cayman Islands’ first female governor since the territory began appointing that position in 1971. Builders to complete solar farm in April TAD STONER tstoner@pinnaclemedialtd.com Builders will begin installing 21,690 solar panels on a 22-acre east Bodden Town site next week, moving toward an April commissioning for Cayman’s first utility- scale solar project. The array, abutting Pease Bay Pond on a former vegetable farm, will begin pro- ducing 5 megawatts of electricity for the Caribbean Utilities Company by late April, completing a project delayed since October, and launching Cayman’s first industrial ex- periment with renewable energy. Thompson Development Group Di- rector Gene Thompson and Project Man- ager Ryan Smith said they assumed control of the scheme about three or four months ago and had started construction at the end of February. Mr. Smith said the racking and under- ground electrical systems would be com- pleted by mid-March as teams from Clan Construction and solar installer Mega Sys- tems poured 4,000 yards of concrete. “About the last week of March the panels would go in, and commissioning would start April 10,” extending “about three weeks and finishing at the end of the month,” Mr. Ryan said. Mr. Thompson and Mr. Smith are building the $18 million project for North Carolina’s Entropy Investment Management, LLC, which bought it from Pittsburgh-based Racking for nearly 22,000 solar panels is in place at the Bodden Town solar farm. - PHOTO: JEWEL LEVY PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 »2 LOCAL NEWS FRIDAY MARCH 24, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS 945-2290 • West Shore Center, Seven Mile Beach • 10am to 10pm Eat-in!Take-Out! ON THE Wood Roasted Marinated Chicken Mac & Cheese Honey Glazed Sweet Potatoes Tarragon Carrots Caribbean Style Cornbread $ 29.95 EASTER WEEKEND April 14th - 17th Cayman detective recalls colleague slain in terror attack Detective served in Territorial Army with PC Keith Palmer JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A Cayman Islands police detective who served with murdered U.K. police officer Keith Palmer in the Territorial Army spoke of her shock at the brutal death of her friend in the terrorist attack that rocked London this week. Lizzie Owens served in the same unit as Mr. Palmer, the officer who was stabbed to death inside the gates of the British parliament on Wednesday. Detective Owens said she was stunned at the attack and saddened by the death of Mr. Palmer, 48, whom she described as a good man and a good friend during their army days. The pair served together in the same London-based volunteer unit in the 1990s before going on to separate careers in the police force. “I was 17 when I joined and the only girl in the unit, so they were all like my big brothers,” she said. Detective Owens said she saw coverage of the terrorist attack, which left four people dead and dozens injured, during the day on Wednesday. It was not until later when she saw Facebook tributes from other members of their army unit that she realized her friend was the police of- ficer who had been killed. She said about a dozen former army colleagues at the London-based unit have been sharing memories and photographs over the past 24 hours. “We haven’t seen each other for years, but those type of friendships stay with you for life.” She said she had been un- able to look at the news pic- tures of people rushing to the aid of the police officer. “I feel really sad, not be- cause I have lost a friendship, but for his family, his wife and child. It is such a brutal way to die and so senseless. That little girl is going to grow up without a daddy be- cause somebody else made that decision.” Mr. Palmer was the father of a 5-year-old daughter. PC Palmer was hailed as a hero for protecting Parlia- ment and confronting Khalid Masood, the man named by police as responsible for Wednesday’s attack. Conservative MP James Cleverly, also a former army colleague of PC Palmer in the same unit, paid tribute to his friend in a speech in the House of Com- mons on Thursday. Mr. Cleverly said he first met PC Palmer as a gunner in the Royal Artillery, 25 years ago. “He was a strong, profes- sional public servant and it was a delight to meet him again only a few months after being elected,” he said. He then asked Prime Min- ister Theresa May to honor the officer posthumously for his “gallant” actions. “Would the Prime Min- ister, in recognition of the work that he did and the other police officers and public servants here in the House do, consider recog- nizing his gallantry and sac- rifice formally with a posthu- mous recognition?” A media statement from Mr. Palmer’s family said he will be “deeply missed.” It read: “Keith will be re- membered as a wonderful dad and husband. A loving son, brother and uncle. A long-time supporter of Charlton FC, dedicated to his job and proud to be a police officer, brave and courageous. “A friend to everyone who knew him. He will be deeply missed. We love him so much. “His friends and family are shocked and devastated by his loss and ask that they are left to grieve alone in peace.” In a Facebook post Thursday, the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service ex- pressed sympathy and con- dolences to Mr. Palmer’s family: “An attack on a po- lice officer anywhere is an attack on a police officer ev- erywhere, and we want our law enforcement partners in London and elsewhere to know that we stand with them as guardians of public safety who potentially put ourselves at risk, day after day, to protect the public from the scourges of crime, and in this case, terrorism.” The Union Jack and Cayman flag fly at half-staff Thursday at the Government Administration Building as a mark of respect for those who died Wednesday when a man drove an SUV into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, killing two and injuring dozens, before stabbing a police officer to death at Westminster Palace. See pages 16 and 18 for more on the London terror attacks. Lawyers bill changes set for Friday BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Controversial changes to the law that governs the operation of Cayman Islands lawyers and law firms are expected to be re- viewed by the Legislative Assembly on Friday. Premier Alden McLaughlin said late Wednesday that the gov- ernment had filed a number of proposed amendments to the plan and wanted to give opposition party and independent members time to study them before they are considered. Mr. McLaughlin also indicated that assembly members could consider some of the changes pri- vately Friday before going into the open com- mittee that would ratify the amendments. The current version of the Legal Practitioners Bill, which lawmakers passed unanimously last week, will face wholesale changes in the legislative committee that will review it before a final vote on the measure. Financial Services Minister Wayne Panton said one of the proposed changes seeks to guarantee majority Caymanian own- ership of all local firms. “Over the next 15 years, we want to see the ma- jority of Caymanians being engaged as owners, con- trollers of Cayman Islands law firms,” Mr. Panton said. “That is a very significant step and one that we don’t take lightly.” The specific wording of the amended bill was re- leased late Wednesday to opposition members, but it is still uncertain whether that proposal will be the final wording of the changes. Mr. Panton said the Caymanian ownership requirement would likely be similar to the Local Companies (Control) Li- cense regime, which re- quires 60 percent Cay- manian ownership of any locally operating company. Another change Min- ister Panton announced in- cluded amending the mem- bership of the Cayman Islands Legal Practitioners Association council, which will effectively oversee local law firms. The eight- person council, according to the proposed amend- ments, will be 100 percent Caymanian and Cabinet will have some selection power over the otherwise self-regulating body. Opposition lawmakers have provisionally sup- ported the legislation, with the caveat that they have not yet agreed to the amendments government has proposed. The Progressives-led government has a slim ma- jority in the assembly and could force through the changes it wants to the bill, even if opposition mem- bers disagree. A private members’ motion alleging various instances of law-breaking by Finance Minister Wayne Panton and un- named local law firms in relation to Legal Practi- tioners Bill matters has not been heard yet by the assembly. It was filed by MLAs Arden McLean and Winston Connolly who were opponents of the original bill. Parliament is scheduled to be dissolved on Tuesday, March 28, ahead of the May general election. This regiment photograph shows Lizzie Owens and Keith Palmer in their Territorial Army unit. Mr. Palmer is in the center of the picture in the second row from the back. Detective Owens is next to him on the right. Flags at half-staff for London attack victims3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY MARCH 24, 2017 WITH INDUSTRY-LEADING 3-YEAR MANUFACTURER WARRANTIES SHOPS 5-6 BAY TOWN PLAZA • 36 WEST BAY ROAD T: 946 8324 | info@creativetechltd.com | www.creativetechltd.com/business-solutions IF YOU CAN DREAM IT! WE CAN PRINT IT! NEW RANGE OF ECOSYS A4 COLOUR PRINTERS & MFPS IF YOU CAN DREAM IT!IF YOU CAN DREAM IT! • Print speeds up to 22/27 Pages Per Minute • 4.3” TSI, Tablet-Like Home Screen • 1200 x 1200 dpi print output • Standard 50 Sheet Dual Scan Document Processor • Mobile printing (Apple AirPrint®, Google Cloud PrintTM, KYOCERA Mobile Print and MopriaTM ) • Standard Wireless and Wi-Fi Direct capability WITH INDUSTRY-LEADING 3-YEAR MANUFACTURER WARRANTIES LOW LOW PRICES NOW $ 639.00 WAS $1,095.00 M5526 NOW $ 469.00 was $795.00 M5521 IF YOU CAN DREAM IT! WE CAN PRINT IT! Premier: Indigent, seamen’s healthcare costs $2.5M-$3.5M per month Government faces huge cost overruns BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Cayman Islands gov- ernment is now paying be- tween $2.5 million to $3.5 million each month to fund retired seamen, servicemen and uninsured Caymanians’ healthcare costs. Premier Alden McLaughlin revealed the amounts Wednesday during state- ments to the Legislative As- sembly that detailed the ad- ditional cash his Ministry of Health had to pay in each of the last three budget years, including a $3.9 million pay- ment made in November. Mr. McLaughlin said gov- ernment was spending about $1 million to $2 million per month for health services provided to those groups at the Health Services Authority and an additional $1.5 mil- lion per month for “tertiary” [specialist or prolonged healthcare] services at over- seas or local hospitals. “[The November payment of $3.9 million] was … nec- essary to preserve the rela- tionship and reputation of the Cayman Islands govern- ment among the network of local and overseas health- care providers whilst en- suring that the group of per- sons served … have access to the appropriate medical in- stitutions and services,” Mr. McLaughlin said. There are an estimated 1,075 seamen and veterans receiving healthcare coverage in Cayman now and gov- ernment estimates between 1,300-1,400 “indigents” – Cay- manians who have no health- care coverage. The seamen and veterans are covered under a health plan, but any specialist overseas care they receive is paid directly from government coffers. The healthcare pay- ments present a signifi- cant liability for the govern- ment in two ways, according to the premier. First, if a patient’s referral to an overseas hospital is not acted upon simply for finan- cial reasons, Mr. McLaughlin said there is a “high prob- ability” the patient of their family could sue govern- ment. Second, if overseas healthcare costs rise higher than expected, those med- ical institutions expect to re- ceive payment for services. If they are not paid, legal ac- tion can be taken against the Cayman government. The Cayman Islands Na- tional Insurance Company, which serves as the funding mechanism used to cover overseas medical costs for uninsured Caymanians, was sued multiple times in late 2014 and early 2015 by var- ious Florida hospitals over outstanding bills. The total amount owed in those cases was in the millions, ac- cording to court records. On Wednesday, Premier McLaughlin revealed the scale of the costs faced by CINICO and the government in trying to pay off tertiary healthcare bills for indigents, seamen and veterans. For the 2014/15 govern- ment budget year, tertiary healthcare costs were ini- tially set at $11.4 million. An additional $5.4 million was provided in supplementary expenditure, the premier said. During the 2015/16 year, government’s additional pay- ments exceeded its original budget for tertiary care by nearly $3.7 million. In the current 2016/17 budget year, the additional $3.9 million was spent in November – mainly to cover additional costs from the pre- vious year, the premier said. The government increased charges assessed to pri- vate sector healthcare con- sumers during 2013 that are paid into the segregated in- surance fund. Those charges, ranging between $10 and $20, depending on the pri- vate sector coverage the cus- tomer maintains, are used to pay for indigent healthcare. Mr. McLaughlin said the segregated fund raises about $5 million per year with the increased fees in place. “This is still significantly below the government’s costs of providing healthcare for the indigent, seamen and vet- erans,” he said. “An inability to meet fi- nancial obligations to the overseas healthcare providers in a timely manner could af- fect the relationship with these providers, whereby pa- tients referred [by govern- ment] could be denied ac- cess to critical care,” the premier continued. “This has the potential to affect not just the indigents, seafarers and veterans, but the entire civil service.” BOND-THEMED GALA FOR LAW SCHOOL Cayman’s law students are hosting a James Bond- themed gala at the Kimpton Hotel Saturday to raise funds for the law school library. The “Casino Royale” event revives the Truman Bodden Law School Student So- ciety’s annual gala after a year hiatus. Student Society Presi- dent Craig Thomas said, “We are thrilled to bring back the event this year. We would like to in- vite all to attend the event, or make a donation, to raise the funds necessary to help law students in the Cayman Islands reach their full potential.” The society hopes to raise enough funds through the gala and a golf event later this year to revamp the li- brary and pay for new educa- tional resources. Mr. Thomas said there was currently limited room for students to study. Planned improvements in- clude adding a soundproof room for group study and re- placing some of the books. “We are bringing the gala back to raise money specifi- cally for these projects. “It is about giving our stu- dents all the resources that they have at a U.K. university, so it will even the playing field in terms of resources.” The event is sponsored by Walkers, Ogier, Maples and Calder, and Appleby. Tickets start at $175 for an individual and are available from www.caymanaisles.com/etickets.The islands’ most-trusted news source 4 – EDITORIAL – Opinion&Letters The Cayman Compass welcomes comments, opinions and viewpoints from readers. Letters to the editor can be emailed to editor@pinnaclemedialtd.com, submitted via www.caymancompass.com, sent by post or hand-delivered to the Compass office. FRIDAY MARCH 24, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS In the three years since David Marshall took the reins as president of the International College of the Cayman Islands, we’ve only had to publish one disap- pointing headline about his tenure. This appeared on the front page of yesterday’s newspaper: “ICCI Presi- dent stepping down after three years.” Mr. Marshall, who will officially leave his post on Aug. 1, said he’s pleased with what he’s been able to accomplish in his time at ICCI, and, quite frankly, so are we. He described his experience at ICCI in Sisyphean terms: “It feels like pushing a rock up a hill and you reach the top, but there are still three or four more peaks to go.” We do not doubt that what Mr. Marshall says is true. Since he arrived in spring 2014, Mr. Marshall has been one of Cayman’s singular champions for increased accountability, not just at his institution, but throughout the country’s education system. It’s a difficult enough task to raise and sustain standards in education, but when you are holding them up by yourself, (to refer again to Greek mythology) the labor becomes Atlantean. Unlike Atlas, Mr. Marshall has not been entirely without support. He has had consistent backing from the ICCI board, its chairman Mike Mannisto, and from the Compass. From the moment he uttered his first public statements upon his arrival in Cayman, we rec- ognized Mr. Marshall as an ally in the battle to improve education in Cayman. In April 2014, we wrote, “Mr. Marshall commits what many of today’s educators will consider heresy, if not blasphemy, namely that he intends to elevate the academic standards of ICCI to the degree that the qualification the school bestows upon its students at graduation actually means something. He makes clear there will be no ‘affirmative action’ or ‘social promo- tion’ going forward at ICCI – either in terms of getting into the school or, more importantly, getting out.” In July 2014, after Mr. Marshall implemented rules on mandatory tutoring for failing students and manda- tory attendance for all students, we wrote, “Now we are pleased to lend our support not just to Mr. Mar- shall’s pronouncements, but to his actions. “Just as the wind traverses the ocean to give Seven Mile Beach patrons a breath of fresh air, oftentimes it takes the perspective of someone from overseas to revitalize our insular institutions. “When future ICCI graduates arrive for job inter- views, employers will be inclined to look upon them favorably – because their degrees will actually carry with them the presumption of academic achievement.” That prediction has since proved accurate. Nearly all of the students graduating from ICCI in the past two years have left their commencement ceremonies not just with diplomas, but with real educations (and, most significantly, with employment). Jumping ahead to November 2016, a letter from Mr. Marshall to local education leaders was made public, containing his characteristic straight talk and truth-telling. In his letter, he expressed concerns about differing grading standards between ICCI (higher) and the government’s University College of the Cayman Islands (lower), and about the lack of preparedness among students entering ICCI. He said in the letter, “We believe that an employer should have a real and accurate record of a stu- dent’s true academic performance.” We wrote, “At this juncture, let us note that we are not supporting Person A over Person B, ICCI President David Marshall over UCCI President Roy Bodden, or ICCI over UCCI. What we do support is education, higher education and higher standards. “If the words and actions of Dr. Marshall, Dr. Bodden or anyone else align with that vision, then we support them in their mission as well.” That remains the case. Although we, and the entire country, will feel keenly Dr. Marshall’s absence from the continuing crusade to improve Cayman’s education system, it remains a cause most worthy of fighting for. In the long run, education can be considered as the only issue that really matters because it sets the floor, and shatters the ceiling, for what we can accomplish as individuals and as a society. David Marshall: ICCI’s champion exits the arena LETTER TO THE EDITOR Derek Haines on bad driving, texting, toddlers and dirt bikes The awful driving habits of some of our drivers were again exposed on my run home about 5:35 p.m. yes- terday (March 22). Traffic was nose-to-tail and moving slowly as I ran south along the Esterley Tib- betts when I was again con- fronted by a vehicle over- taking the traffic by driving north along the hard shoulder. I held my ground and on this occasion the driver did pull back onto the road. Over the next 10 minutes, I witnessed one driver tex- ting with both hands off of the steering wheel whilst still moving, a toddler being al- lowed to stand on the center console between the adults in the front of the vehicle, a baby sitting on the knee of the front-seat passenger (airbag option I suppose), and approximately 40 percent of the other drivers using their cellphones to chat or text. As I passed the airport, a motorcycle (trail bike) with no rear license plate was over- taking the traffic. As there was no spare seat, his passenger was standing on the exten- sions on the rear axle with his hands on the rider’s shoulders; no helmet, of course. The sad thing is that these are daily happenings and can only ensure that our road death and injury rates are ridiculously high for a small population. Derek Haines I was again confronted by a vehicle overtaking the traffic by driving north along the hard shoulder. The Democrats’ deepening ditch ED ROGERS Special To The Washington Post Democrats in Congress are digging themselves a ditch that keeps getting deeper. There’s no good fight to be had on Judge Neil Gorsuch, and their base has lurched to the far left, fully outside their grasp. The result? An out-of- touch leadership that can’t stop babbling. And for all the Trump administration’s mis- cues, Democrats haven’t laid a glove on the president. They couldn’t appear any weaker. On Monday, Gorsuch presented himself as a con- sensus-builder, a true jurist. He continued yesterday, de- scribing himself as nothing less than “a fair judge.” But liberals are overreaching in trying to paint him as a judicial tyrant, an anti- working-class villain. All they are doing is posing for the angry left. They aren’t even attempting to block Gor- such’s confirmation. Doing so would be a pointless ex- ercise. Rather, they are just trying to get on the re- cord as “resisting” President Donald Trump. According to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Gorsuch “harbors a right-wing, pro-corporate, special interest agenda.” His desperate attempt to ap- pease the newer, angrier left is laughable. The clearly disoriented House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said of Gorsuch’s nom- ination, “It is a hostile ap- pointment ... if you breathe air, drink water, eat food, take medicine or in any other way interact with the courts – this is a very bad decision.” What? Giving her the benefit of the doubt, I guess this was an earnest attempt to appeal to air-breathers, water-drinkers, food-eaters and the like. Democrats are clearly lost, with no sense of direc- tion. Their efforts to oppose the GOP agenda have failed, and their base knows it. The Democratic base has lurched so far to the left that the party’s establishment now looks foolish trying to catch up. The only good news I have for my friends on the left is that in politics, things are never as good or as bad as they appear. If Trump and the GOP leadership in Congress can keep their heads level for the next few weeks, they will succeed in not only repealing and replacing Obamacare but also confirming a justice to the Supreme Court who will help shape the country for decades to come. A conser- vative vision for the nation may finally have a chance to be realized. © 2017, Washington Post PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Caymanian Compass Limited (a subsidiary of Pinnacle Media Ltd) Compass Centre Shedden Road, George Town SEND US YOUR VIEWS OR NEWS: P.O. Box 1365 Grand Cayman KY1-1108, Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 Email: newsdesk@pinnaclemedialtd.com ADVERTISE WITH US: Telephone: (345) 949-5111 Email: sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com Website: www.caymancompass.com PUBLISHERS DAVID R. LEGGE AND VICKI L. LEGGE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DAVID R. LEGGE EXECUTIVE EDITOR PATRICK BRENDEL A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will find their own way”The islands’ most-trusted news source 5 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY MARCH 24, 2017 184012-PRINT-IH_FP_CC_ChrtyDrv-2Page 1 3/22/17 12:24:40 PM6 LOCAL NEWS FRIDAY MARCH 24, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Women in Leadership © 2017 KPMG, a Cayman Islands partnership and a member firm. At KPMG we are committed to retaining and advancing women to leadership roles. We celebrate the extraordinary men and women in our firm. Wanda Mellaneo Partner, Alternative Investments KPMG in the Cayman Islands Be bold, be extraordinary kpmg.ky 1998 - KPMG scholarship recipient / Joined KPMG Cayman 2002 - Obtained CPA designation 2001 - Promoted to Manager 2007 - Promoted to Director 2004 - Promoted to Senior Manager 2013 - Head of Ethics & Independence 2011 - Promoted to Partner 2016 - Appointed to Management Committee 2007 2004 Drastic drop in open records requests BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com There has been a large, unexplained drop in the number of Freedom of Infor- mation requests being sub- mitted to the Cayman Is- lands government. According to figures pre- sented at the Legislative As- sembly, only 404 requests seeking public information from the government were turned in from members of the public between July 2015 and June 2016. That is the lowest number of FOI requests filed in any year since the open records law took effect in January 2009. That law granted, for the first time in Cayman’s history, anyone in the world the ability to request public records from the Cayman Is- lands government. The 404 FOI requests rep- resented a 42 percent de- crease from the 702 open re- cords requests submitted during 2014/15. “The Information Com- missioners Office is not able to explain this drop, which could have both positive and negative reasons and con- notations,” Acting Informa- tion Commissioner Jan Li- ebaers wrote in his office’s annual report for the year. Mr. Liebaers said the num- bers might show that gov- ernment is attempting to answer queries from the public without using the FOI Law. Instead, the agencies may just be volunteering the information without having to go through what can be a lengthy process, he said. However, he noted uncer- tainties around the open re- cords regime in Cayman, with the long-pending forma- tion of the ombudsman office, could also have affected the number of requests made. Continued vacancy “There can be no doubt that the continued vacancy at the top of the [information commissioner’s office] has presented significant chal- lenges, reduced the efficacy of the [office], and weakened the essential oversight func- tion the office delivers,” Mr. Liebaers said. This week, lawmakers approved the formation of the new ombudsman of- fice which will house the in- formation commissioner and complaints commis- sioner’s offices, as well as create a new police-public complaints function. The ombudsman post has not been filled. Faster response times One positive development the information commis- sioner’s office noted is that it appears to be taking gov- ernment much less time to respond to open records re- quests. The average response time reduced from an av- erage 31 days per request to an average of 20 days. “We hope to see a con- tinued trend of shorter re- sponse times because, as is quoted in many FOI jurisdic- tions worldwide, access de- layed is access denied,” the report noted. Acting Information Commissioner Jan Liebaers Phonebook recycling campaign under way Yello is asking members of the public and local com- panies to hand over their old phonebooks for the compa- ny’s annual “Yellow2Green” recycling initiative. The company, formerly known as Yellow Pages, says the campaign has meant that 170,000 fewer directories have ended up in the George Town landfill over the years. The collected directories will be shipped to a Green- Fiber recycling plant in the United States, where they will be converted into ma- terial that will be used for home insulation. “We share in the passion for the preservation of our environment and are excited to partner with local retailers that will act as drop off centers for the used books,” said Melanie Shambaugh, Yello’s marketing manager. Yellow2Green recycling containers can be found at seven locations throughout Grand Cayman – at Foster’s Food Fair’s Airport, Strand, Republix and Countryside stores; Hurley’s Supermarket; Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce; and the Yello office across from the Air- port Post Office. The campaign runs until mid-April. Brac recycling The recycling campaign is also being run on Cayman Brac this year. Phonebooks can be dropped off at West End Primary School, Creek and Spot Bay Junior School, Layman E. Scott High School and the UCCI campus. For information about how to get involved in Yellow2Green, contact Melanie Shambaugh at 814-1762, via email mshambaugh@yellomg. com or visit www.FindYello.com. The company, formerly known as Yellow Pages, says the campaign has meant that 170,000 fewer directories have ended up in the George Town landfill over the years. Young recyclers deposit phone directories in the recycling bin at Foster’s Food Fair.The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY MARCH 24, 2017 The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 FRIDAY MARCH 24, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS It is with great sadness that the family of Mary Patricia Alberga announce her passing from this world on the 20th March 2017 in the early morning. She is survived by her husband, Ramon, to whom she was married for 65 years. By her only sister, Ann Smith, who resides in Devon, England, by ve of her six children Michael, Charles, Ruth, Mary and Cathy, ten grand children and by seven great grand children. Her second son John, predeceased her on the 28th June 2016. Following her cremation, a memorial service of thanksgiving and celebration of her life will take place. This will occur at a later date and at a venue both of which will be announced. Patsy will be forever missed and remembered by her family and friends. Patsy was born on the 29th December 1926 and was 90 years old at the time of her death.and was 90 years old at the time of her death.and was 90 years old at the time of her death. Following her cremation, a memorial service of thanksgiving and celebration of her life will take place. This will occur at a later date Following her cremation, a memorial service of thanksgiving and Following her cremation, a memorial service of thanksgiving and celebration of her life will take place. This will occur at a later date celebration of her life will take place. This will occur at a later date The family of the late Kenneth Charles Wright would like to express gratitude to all friends and relatives for their prayers, and all Expressions of sympathy during our time of bereavement. Special thanks to the numerous Doctors and Nurses and other Medical sta of Health Services Authority Grand Cayman who ably attended to him until his nal hours on Jan. 10 2017. Also included are Mr. Pandohie and all employees of Dept. of Planning, Trisha's Roses, and Mr. S. Ruby and Bodden Funeral Services for their reliable help. We appreciate all the assistance with the Funeral Service from Rev. Myers and Rev. Yvette, as well as all members of our John Gray Memorial Church family, who extended compassionate support to all of us. Grace Wright, and Albert and Kimberly Voaden Condolences can be registered at: www.churchillsfuneralhome.com We have been asked to announce the passing of Mr. Joseph Asher Ebanks of West Bay, who passed away on Saturday, March 18, 2017. A Thanksgiving Service will be held on Sunday, March 26, 2017 at 3:00p.m. at George Town Seventh Day Adventist Church, Smith Road. Viewing will be from 2:00-2:45p.m. Interment follows at Boatswain Bay Cemetery. were at Wednesday’s meeting to observe proceedings, but had no comment after the de- cision. Gina Ebanks-Petrie, director of the DoE, gave a presentation to the council on the application Wednesday, saying the planned excava- tion, inside a marine park, re- quired a full independent as- sessment of the risks. In a screening opinion, part of the agenda papers for the meeting, the DoE’s tech- nical review committee ad- vised: “Given the complexity of the coastal processes along Seven Mile Beach, and the economic value of the beach (not only to tourism, but also culture and recre- ation), the potential risks associated with substan- tial shoreline modification are high, and the works will likely result in an irreversible action being undertaken.” The council was also read extracts of a letter from Ken- neth Hydes of Dart Real Estate requesting that the work the developer’s consul- tants had already done be considered as part of any EIA. Dart submitted a report from a coastal engineering company with the coastal works application that con- cluded the effects on the coastline would be minimal. Mr. Hydes also raised con- cerns that the DoE’s recom- mendation was for a simul- taneous assessment to be conducted on the planned hotel development as part of the same EIA. The developer indicated that there were no concrete plans in place, at this stage, for the land-side development, which would make an EIA on that element impractical at this point. A deal for the hotel project in- volving a five-star operator is believed to be contingent on the shoreline modifications. Ms. Ebanks-Petrie said that the work of Dart’s con- sultants would be considered during the “scoping” pro- cess which would outline the terms of reference for the en- vironmental impact assess- ment and could go toward the broader study, if they met the required criteria. Christine Rose-Smyth, chairwoman of the National Conservation Council, indi- cated that the recommenda- tion that a simultaneous EIA take place on the land-side development would be some- thing that could be negoti- ated with the developer as the terms of reference for the assessment are outlined. The next step is for Dart to indicate if it wishes to pro- ceed with the project. At that point, an Environmental As- sessment Board would be convened and public consul- tation would take place to outline the terms of the study. The EIA, once complete, would be used to inform the council’s advice to Cab- inet on whether the coastal works application should be granted. Cabinet can weigh that advice, alongside other considerations including the mooted economic impact of the project, before making its decision. “The arbitrary selection of a road corridor without any strategic assessment is not something the DoE can sup- port,” Gina Ebanks-Petrie, di- rector of the Department of Environment, said in a pre- sentation to the council. She said it was important that strategic studies investi- gating the need for the road and an environmental impact assessment take place before the road is gazetted, rather than waiting until construc- tion is being contemplated. “In our experience, once a road is gazetted, develop- ment applications inevitably follow because there is an ex- pectation that the land will be opened up. “There becomes little op- portunity to realign the road. Even though it is only a road on paper, it becomes con- creted as development appli- cations go forward.” She said there was no in- dication of any sort of traffic issue that the road was de- signed to resolve, or that the route was part of any strategic national roads plan. Colleen Stoetzel, the plan- ning department’s represen- tative on the council, said the usual process would be for the National Roads Au- thority to carry out a traffic impact assessment before a road was contemplated. She added that the popu- lation in the area affected was not growing, there was limited new development in North Side or Rum Point, and that the zoning along the proposed route was largely agriculture. Christine Rose-Smyth, chairwoman of the council, said the three roads pro- posed by Mr. Miller added up to some 10 miles of road through pristine habitat. Together with the pro- posed 10-mile extension to the East-West Arterial Highway for the Ironwood development, which is about to undergo an environmental impact assessment, she said the projects represent a threat to large swathes of pristine habitat. In its screening opinion on the road proposal, given to council members at Wednesday’s meeting, the Department of Environ- ment technical review com- mittee described the Cen- tral Mangrove Wetlands as the “ecological heart” of Grand Cayman. It stated, “The need for a public road along this route has not been objectively eval- uated. Large tracts of pris- tine primary habitat of high ecological and biodiversity value will be adversely af- fected with the proposed route alignment. “In the absence of any strategic environmental overview of the proposed alignment, informed by input from the Departments of Planning and Environ- ment, the National Roads Authority and the Water Au- thority, together with ex- tensive public consultation, the sustainability of this road proposal needs due consideration.” The council also re- ported Wednesday that Iron- wood and government plan to proceed with an envi- ronmental impact assess- ment on a separate plan for a 10-mile extension to the East-West Arterial Highway to help provide speedy ac- cess to a planned golf resort. The council ordered the en- vironmental study for the project last year and con- firmed Wednesday that gov- ernment and the developer had responded that they wished to proceed. There will now be a public consul- tation on scoping the remit for the study. Road proposed through mangroves “In our experience, once a road is gazetted, development applications inevitably follow because there is an expectation that the land will be opened up.” GINA EBANKS-PETRIE, director, Department of Environment Beach rock study for Dart project CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Dart workers carry out a trial excavation of beach rock on Seven Mile Beach in December last year. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY MARCH 24, 2017 I WillI Will AlwaysAlways Damion Ming October 1st, 1981 – March 25th, 2010 To grow to love and then to part, Is the greatest sorrow of our hearts. Time may wipe out many things, But cannot wipe out memories of you. Your memories will be treasured. Sleep on my Son. I Will Always Damion Ming October 1st, 1981 – March 25th, 2010 To grow to love and then to part, I Will To grow to love and then to part, I Will Is the greatest sorrow of our hearts. Time may wipe out many things, But cannot wipe out memories of you. Your memories will be treasured. Always Sleep on my Son. Always I Will Always October 1st, 1981 – March 25th, 2010 To grow to love and then to part, I Will To grow to love and then to part, I Will Is the greatest sorrow of our hearts. Time may wipe out many things, But cannot wipe out memories of you. Your memories will be treasured. Always ove You Always ove You Always Love You From Mom, Sisters Carol & Stacey, Son Diondre and Stepdad Dabian Sadly missed beyond measure. R.I.P The Family Of The Late Condolences can be registered at boddenfuneralservices.com & Bodden Funeral Service Facebook page. Gail Moss regret to announce her passing on Thursday, 9 March 2017. Mrs. Moss will be repatriated to the U.S.A. The Family Of The Late Condolences can be registered at boddenfuneralservices.com & Bodden Funeral Service Facebook page. Helen Thomas regret to announce her passing on Thursday, 16 March 2017. Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date. The Family Of The Late Condolences can be registered at boddenfuneralservices.com & Bodden Funeral Service Facebook page. Amealo “Leroy” Walton regret to announce his passing on Wednesday, 15 March, 2017. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Saturday, 1 April,2017 at the Veterans & Seaman’s Centre, Cayman Brac. Viewing will be from 1:00 P.M. Interment will follow in Spot Bay Cemetery. The Family Of The Late Condolences can be registered at boddenfuneralservices.com & Bodden Funeral Service Facebook page. Kerney Phillips Ebanks regret to announce his passing on Monday, 13 March, 2017. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, 25 March,2017 at the 90 & 9 Outreach Ministries, West Bay. Viewing will be from 10 A.M. The Family Of The Late Condolences can be registered at boddenfuneralservices.com & Bodden Funeral Service Facebook page. Norman Ellis regret to announce his passing on Wednesday, 8 March, 2017. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 P.M. Sunday, 2 April, 2017 at the Seventh Day Church of God, Red Bay located in Dilbert Plaza. Viewing will be from 12:00-2:30 PM at Bodden Funeral Service, 117 Walkers Rd. Shuttle service will be provided from the funeral home to the church until 2:30 PM We have been asked to announce the passing of Mr. Elvis Orlon Watler of George Town, who passed away on Friday, March 17, 2017. Details of a Thanksgiving Service will be announced at a later date Details of a Thanksgiving Service will be Condolences can be registered at: www.churchillsfuneralhome.com Condolences can be registered at: www.churchillsfuneralhome.com We have been asked to announce the passing of Mrs. Merlina Shady affectionately known as “Merl” of George Town, Grand Cayman and St. Catherine, Jamaica, who passed away on Tuesday, March 21, 2017. Details of a Memorial Service & Repatriation will be announced at a later date International Electric Power LLC soon after the company was selected on Oct. 30, 2013 by the Electricity Regulatory Authority after a prolonged bidding process. Subsequent delays were caused by the move from IEP to Entropy, an affiliate of En- tropy Cayman Solar Ltd. Ex- tended pricing negotiations among the Charlotte firm, the ERA and CUC concluded on Oct. 30, 2015. The array was originally scheduled for com- pletion in October 2016, but Entropy Managing Partner David March said at the time that financing delays had fur- ther intruded. Development costs, he said, were “considerably higher,” naming prices for training and labor. “Time lines [were] extended, as well as … regulatory evolution.” “The same was true in the United States,” Mr. March told the Cayman Compass. “Early projects took considerably longer than what is experi- enced today. We expect the Caribbean will become easier and less expensive to do re- newable energy projects as the market matures.” Builders will create the Bodden Town array in five sections, meaning commis- sioning will proceed in stages, incrementally achieving full power in late April. The 5 MW supply is only a fraction of Cayman’s ap- proximately 100 MW demand. While CUC said in October it had “substantially completed” the interconnection mecha- nism, “including a new 13 ki- lovolt line,” which will move power from the array into Cayman’s transmission and distribution grid, consumers are unlikely to see much dif- ference in their bills. Entropy will charge CUC 17 cents for each kilowatt hour it produces during its initial year of operation. CUC, however, will add its own base rate – approximately 10 cents per kWh – to that sum. Because global oil prices are at a historic low, however, the price for a diesel-gener- ated kWh is only 13 cents, contrasted to 2015’s 19 cents. Base rates remain a con- stant 10 cents. CUC’s 2106 annual report, issued Feb. 17, said “electricity consumers continued to enjoy the benefit of lower fuel costs in 2016 driven by a reduc- tion in world market fuel prices as well as the Cayman Islands government’s 30 cent per Imperial Gallon reduction in fuel duty …. “The average Fuel Cost Charge rate per kWh for the 12 months ended Dec. 31, 2016, was $0.13 per kWh compared to the Fuel Cost Charge rate of $0.19 per kWh for the 12 months ended Dec. 31, 2015.” Former managing di- rector of the ERA Charles Farrington – now executive director for Energy and Util- ities at the new Utility Reg- ulation and Competition Of- fice – explained: “CUC will buy the energy from the solar farm in the same manner as it buys solar from the CORE producers.” CUC’s Consumer Owned Renewable Energy program buys electricity from indi- viduals and companies gen- erating their own power from self-owned solar and wind systems. Consumers buy power back at dis- counted rates. “Consumers will see no difference in their bills as the cost of the solar-farm energy is somewhat minuscule com- pared to the cost of diesel burned, and the costs are not that dissimilar on a kWh basis,” Mr. Farrington said. A CUC spokeswoman said, “As far as we are aware, the project is scheduled for com- pletion by the second quarter of this year.” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Builders to complete solar farm in April The solar panels will be placed in these frames. - PHOTO: JEWEL LEVYNext >